Squeeze have announced their brand new tour ‘The Difford And Tilbrook Songbook 2019’, which will see the South-London legends play their extensive list of hits as well as some rare, lesser known gems from their back catalogue and solo careers.

“‘I am over the moon to be announcing the 2019 tour with Squeeze.”, says Glenn Tilbrook. “We’ve had something of a renaissance in the last few years, and look forward to this continuing, as we will play a set of songs that are both new, contemporary and as innovative as people have come to expect from us, along with the old beauties. I’m also excited to have Heaven 17 with us, what an extraordinary time we will have!’

With 2 critically acclaimed albums in the past three years, and a live show that has seen them headline numerous festivals in the UK (as well as sell their own sold out shows across the country), “something of a renaissance” seems like an understatement. Ever hardworking, the band will be bringing their scintillating live performances to adoring UK fans again in 2019, treating them to not just the hits, but also rarities that span their 45 year career both as Squeeze and solo artists. The incredible reviews of their 2017 tour speak for themselves.

Chris Difford adds“I feel excited about the tour. It’s a great band full of dedicated, hardworking, passionate people and we have a fabulous catalogue of songs to dip in and out of, so I feel completely blessed. I can’t wait to strap on the electric guitar again and sing the songs that got me where I am today.”

Lauded as a song writing duo, Difford and Tilbrook have been compared to Lennon and McCartney since their first release in 1978 – ‘Take Me I’m Yours’ – which blasted Squeeze into the forefront of the UK music scene. Following up with hits such as ‘Cool For Cats’, ‘Up The Junction’, ‘Goodbye Girl’, “Pulling Mussels From The Shell”, “Tempted”, and so many more, Squeeze established themselves as not just a passing footnote in New Wave history, but as an important and vital part of quintessential British music. These hits also established Difford and Tilbrook as some of the most prolific writers of their time, with both amassing a wealth of melody rich earworms over the past four decades, both as Squeeze and also in their solo work too. ‘The Difford and Tilbrook Songbook 2019’ is a tour that will capture the works of two of the most talented songsmiths working today.

This month Foz previews solo shows in our region this month by Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze and somehow manages to work in mentions for two of his other favourite bands – Dr Feelgood and Nine Below Zero! The London band Squeeze are an English music institution. Since forming some 40 years the group have produced […]

This month Foz previews solo shows in our region this month by Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze and somehow manages to work in mentions for two of his other favourite bands – Dr Feelgood and Nine Below Zero!

The London band Squeeze are an English music institution. Since forming some 40 years the group have produced some of the finest pop records ever made in this country. At the heart of all they’ve done past and present are Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook. It’s a bit of an exaggeration to call them the modern day Lennon and McCartney but for a few years in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s they had the Midas touch when he came to penning hit singles. Cool For Cats, Up the Junction, Labelled With Love and Hourglass are classic ‘45s while East Side Story, produced by Elvis Costello, is up there with the greatest albums made in Great Britain.

In 2015 Squeeze made another great CD – Cradle To The Grave – which featured songs from the Danny Baker TV series of the same name. It was a real return to form for Difford and Tilbrook who’ve so many fall-outs down the years you wonder how they still manage to share stages and studios.

As part of their British tour that year Squeeze performed at the Ipswich Regent with special guest Dr John Cooper Clarke. It was a magical evening and was by far the best gig I saw during 2015. When I spoke to Glenn recently he told me that he and Chris have now got the bit between the teeth again and that they’ll be recording a new Squeeze album early in the New Year.

In the meantime Glenn has embarked on a massive solo tour which brings him to our neck of the woods. The Best Of Times UK tour calls in to the Norwich Arts Centre on Monday, December 12 and then the following night Glenn is at The Apex in Bury St Edmunds. The nationwide trek takes its name from an album made with the delightfully named Fluffers who certainly lived up to their name by helping Glenn maintain his high quality performance levels.

Glenn Tilbrook has so many great songs from the past four decades that he doesn’t need to rely on the hit singles. That said, many of them do play a part in his own show without ever overshadowing his superb solo work. Glenn is one of only a handful of acts from the ‘70s who continues to make new music to the same standard as his best known tracks.

Back in the day he and Chris wrote a song called Monkey which Dr Feelgood covered on their Fast Women And Slow Horses LP on the Chiswick label. The Feelgoods’ tour which promoted that LP was called Speeding Thru Europe which many years later gave the current line-up the title of a live album. Many of the tracks on that CD still figure in the group’s set and will be getting their annual Ipswich outing on Thursday, December 15 at Venue 77.

One of Glenn Tilbrook’s neighbours in south London Nine Below Zero’s Dennis Greaves. They make a lot of music together and even formed a group called The Co-operative a few years ago. Dennis also guested on the last Squeeze album. Nine Below Zero have just releases a wonderful new album called 13 Shades Of Blue and share the bill with Dr Feelgood at The Junction in Cambridge on Thursday, December 8.

Have a wonderful Christmas and wherever you spend it may the Foz be with you.

Glenn Tilbrook, one of Britain’s most cherished singers, guitarists and songwriters, has embarked on a solo tour which calls in at The Apex on 13 December. There is no denying Glenn has been pretty busy over the last couple of years – in fact, he’s never been far from the action since Squeeze made their […]

Glenn Tilbrook, one of Britain’s most cherished singers, guitarists and songwriters, has embarked on a solo tour which calls in at The Apex on 13 December. There is no denying Glenn has been pretty busy over the last couple of years – in fact, he’s never been far from the action since Squeeze made their recording debut with the Packet Of Three EP in 1977.

Those humble three tracks led to such enduring pop classics as ‘Take Me I’m Yours’, ‘Cool For Cats’, ‘Up The Junction’, ‘Another Nail In My Heart, ‘Labelled With Love’ and landmark albums like Argybargy, East Side Story and Some Fantastic Place.

Squeeze’s demise in 1998 (though not permanent) saw Glenn embark on a solo career that spawned the albums The Incomplete Glenn Tilbrook (2001) and Transatlantic Ping-Pong (2004), showcasing an ever-maturing songwriting talent. Following the release of his solo album ‘Happy Ending’ in 2014, Glenn embarked on the critically acclaimed ‘At Odds Couple’ acoustic tour with long-time collaborator Chris Difford.

In 2015, Glenn and his Squeeze bandmates wrote, recorded and released their first album of new material in eighteen years: ‘Cradle To The Grave’ was written for the BBC drama of the same name, inspired by the memoirs of friend Danny Baker. It was a glorious musical return, met with rave reviews and entered the UK Official Album Chart at number 12. The band embarked on a sold–out tour across the UK, including a packed out date at London’s iconic Royal Albert Hall.

As 2015 drew to a close Glenn and Chris headed to the US for an extensive acoustic tour. Squeeze were a viral sensation in January this year after a castigating performance on BBC 1’s Andrew Marr show (read about it on Glenn’s Guardian Blog).

Anyone who has witnessed Glenn on the live stage can attest to the properness of his doings, as it were. Armed with ready wit, raucous vibes and grin-inducing songs, there are few musicians able to connect with their audience on such an immediate and warm level.

Glenn Tilbrook plays at The Apex on Tuesday 13 December at 7.30pm. Tickets are £20 in advance or £22 on the door. Ring the box office on 01284 758000 or see the website – www.theapex.co.uk for details. For more information see www.glenntilbrook.com

Glenn Tilbrook, one of Britain’s most cherished singers, guitarists and songwriters, is delighted to announce a 36 date solo UK tour this year, starting in Western Super Mare on October 25th and concluding in Cardiff on December 18th. There is no denying Glenn has been pretty busy over the last couple of years – such […]

Glenn Tilbrook, one of Britain’s most cherished singers, guitarists and songwriters, is delighted to announce a 36 date solo UK tour this year, starting in Western Super Mare on October 25th and concluding in Cardiff on December 18th. There is no denying Glenn has been pretty busy over the last couple of years – such is the continuing work ethic of a fellow who’s never been far from the action since Squeeze made their recording bow with the Packet Of Three EP in 1977.

Following the release of his solo album ‘Happy Ending’ in 2014, Glenn embarked on the critically acclaimed ‘At Odds Couple’ UK and US acoustic tours with long-time collaborator Chris Difford. In 2015 Glenn and his Squeeze bandmates wrote, recorded and released their first album of new material in eighteen years – which was written for the BBC drama of the same name, inspired by the memoirs of friend Danny Baker. It was a glorious musical return, ‘Cradle To The Grave’ was met with rave reviews and entered the UK Official Album Chart at number 12. The band embarked on a sold–out tour across the UK, including a packed out date at London’s iconic Royal Albert Hall.

As 2015 drew to a close – without stopping to catch their breath- Glenn and Chris headed to the US for an extensive acoustic tour. 2016 has kicked off no differently – Squeeze were a viral sensation in January after a castigating performance on BBC 1’s Andrew Marr show (read about it on Glenn’s Guardian Blog).

Anyone who has witnessed Glenn on the live stage can attest to the properness of his doings, as it were. Armed with ready wit, raucous vibes and a shed load of grin-inducing great songs, there are few musicians able to connect with their audience on such an immediate and warm level. The ever burgeoning festival circuit is frequently enriched by Tilbrook the troubadour, whether he be leafing through his own plentiful back pages or dashing off impromptu audience requests ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Tony Orlando & Dawn, and all points in-between.